Cashew Processing: How Côte d'Ivoire Is Moving from Raw Exports to Local Processing

Mention Côte d'Ivoire (in West Africa, French-speaking, the world's largest cocoa producer) and most people think only of cocoa. Yet it is also the world's largest producer of raw cashew nuts, and it is working hard to shift from selling raw materials to selling processed products. That shift is closely tied to Asia's processing and food industries.

The world's number one raw cashew producer

According to figures released by the Ivorian authorities and at industry events, a record 1,549,221 tonnes of raw cashew nuts were marketed nationwide in 2025, a sharp increase on about 945,000 tonnes in 2024 and roughly a quarter of world output. Côte d'Ivoire has been the world's largest producer and exporter of raw cashews since 2021; in 2025 it was also the world's second-largest exporter of cashew kernels and third-largest cashew processor, with export earnings for the sector exceeding XOF 1 trillion.

Most raw cashews are still exported unprocessed, however. In 2025 more than 860,000 tonnes of raw nuts were exported, mainly to Vietnam and India, which means that much of the value from shelling, roasting and packaging is still added in Asia.

Progress in local processing

In recent years Côte d'Ivoire has made local processing a policy priority, and the figures show clear change:

The country now has about 37 processing plants, 24 of them majority Ivorian-owned. Notable examples include the CITA plant in Yamoussoukro, opened in 2020 with an annual capacity of 6,000 tonnes; Dorado Ivory in Toumodi, opened in 2022 with an annual capacity of 60,000 tonnes; and the Oussou processing plant, opened in September 2025 and expected to create more than a thousand direct jobs. The processing industry as a whole provides about 20,000 direct jobs, around two-thirds of them held by women.

Policy tools and 2030 targets

Government measures include a farm-gate minimum price system in place since 2013 (XOF 400 per kg for the 2026 season), dedicated cashew agro-industrial zones in producing areas, and financing and incentive schemes for processors. The official target is for domestic processing to exceed half of total output by 2030.

The sector's regulator is the Cotton, Cashew and Shea Council (Conseil du Coton, de l'Anacarde et du Karité, CCA). The National Day of Ivorian Cashew Exporters (Jnec-CI) is the industry's networking event; its sixth edition, held in January 2026, drew more than 3,000 participants and had the Vietnam Cashew Association as guest of honour.

One line for Asian companies

If you work in food processing, equipment or trade, Côte d'Ivoire's cashew sector is in the middle of a transition from raw materials to processing; whether you want to source cashew kernels, supply processing equipment or explore technical cooperation, it is worth contacting the CCA and local processors directly.

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References: Connectionivoirienne – Filière anacarde : le gouvernement poursuit la valorisation locale (2026); AllAfrica – Filière cajou : le pays confirme sa montée en puissance (2026); Team France Export – Essor de la transformation de la noix de cajou en Afrique de l'Ouest en 2025 (2026)